Cuppa: What to do instead of starting with an action flash-forward

A handful of fresh ideas about writing—just enough to mull over with a cup of hot tea (or coffee, if that's your jam)

Hello, writers—

Starting a story by catapulting readers forward to a moment of peak action gets them excited about what’s ahead, right? Consider this: In Chapter 1, readers don’t know your protagonist from Adam. You’ve most likely just wasted one of the best scenes of your book on a disengaged audience. But there’s a better way—read on.

Here’s a handful o…